System for simulating river rafting and method thereof

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for simulating river rafting. The method includes disposing a first person within an open receptacle. The method further includes displaying at least one river rafting video file stored in a storage medium on a display screen. The storage medium is adapted to be accessed by a media player to display at least one river rafting video file on the display screen coupled to the media player. Further, the method includes rocking the open receptacle by a second person in front of the display screen for enabling the first person to simulate the river rafting based upon watching the at least one river rafting video file and the open receptacle being rocked. A system for simulating river rafting is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/195,555 filed on Oct. 8, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to simulation games, and more particularly, to a method and system for simulating river rafting.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Knowledge is imparted to children from a very young age through various mediums. Games provide a creative medium in the form of various learning exercises that allow children to learn by way of active participation in such exercises. Typically, such games include different arrangements of toy articles and the like. However, children may get bored by playing with the same toys again and again. Further, toy games are generally unable to provide a child-parent interaction while playing.

Nowadays, various games have been developed to enhance various skills in children. Examples of conventional games include, but are not limited to video games such as bike racing, car racing and the like. Generally, the above mentioned conventional games focus on enhancing hand-eye coordination of a child. However, the conventional games are unable to develop skills such as planning and the like among the children. This aspect of conventional games requires improvements. Further, enhanced interaction between the child-parent needs to be provided.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One embodiment of a method for simulating river rafting is provided. The method includes disposing a first person within an open receptacle. The method further includes displaying at least one river rafting video file stored in a storage medium to the first person on a display screen. The storage medium is adapted to be accessed by a media player to display at least one river rafting video file on the display screen coupled to the media player. Further, the method includes rocking the open receptacle by a second person in front of the display screen for enabling the first person to simulate the river rafting based upon watching the at least one river rafting video file and the open receptacle being rocked.

One embodiment of a system for simulating river rafting is provided. The system includes a storage medium and an open receptacle. The storage medium includes at least one river rafting video file. Further, the storage medium is adapted to be accessed by a media player to display the at least one river rafting video file on a display screen coupled to the media player. Furthermore, the open receptacle is adapted to hold a first person therein. The open receptacle is further adapted to be rocked by a second person in front of the display screen for enabling the first person to simulate river rafting based upon watching the at least one river rafting video file and the open receptacle being rocked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a system for simulating river rafting;

FIG. 2 illustrates the system of FIG. 1 being utilized for simulating the river rafting; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for simulating river rafting.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The exemplary embodiments described herein in detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular method and system for simulating river rafting, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of terms, “including,” or “comprising,” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

The present disclosure provides a method and a system for simulating river rafting. The method disclosed herein enables a first person, such as a child to simulate river rafting, which may be an entertaining and learning experience for the child. Specifically, a second person, such as a parent of the child may rock an open receptacle holding the child therein in front of a display screen. The child simulates river rafting by watching a river rafting video file displayed on the display screen and the open receptacle being rocked by the second person.

As disclosed herein, the term “storage medium” relates to optical storage mediums such as a Compact Disc (CD), a Video Compact Disc (VCD), a Digital Video Disc (DVD), and the like.

Further, the term “media player” as mentioned herein connotes a device that plays and manages audio and video files. Examples of the media player include, but are not limited to, an MP3 player and a DVD player. The system of the present disclosure is explained in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system 100 for simulating river rafting, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Further, FIG. 2 illustrates the system of FIG. 1 being utilized for simulating the river rafting, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Specifically referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the system 100 includes a storage medium 10 and an open receptacle 20. The storage medium 10 includes at least one river rafting video file stored therein. In the present embodiment, the storage medium 10 is the DVD (as shown in FIG. 1).

The storage medium 10 is adapted to be accessed by a media player to display the river rafting video file on a display screen coupled to the media player. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the storage medium 10 may be accessed by a media player, such as a media player 60. The media player 60 is capable of playing the storage medium, such as a DVD therein. Further, the media player 60 is capable of associating at least one audio file with the river rafting video file. The media player 60 is coupled to a display screen, such as a display screen 70 that is capable of displaying the river rafting video file. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the river rafting video file includes at least a scene such as a scene 12 (shown in FIG. 2) of a raft pitching in an upward direction and a scene of the raft pitching in a downward direction.

The open receptacle 20 is adapted to hold a first person, such as a first person 80 (shown in FIG. 2) therein. In the present embodiment, the first person 80 is a child. The open receptacle 20 is further adapted to be rocked by a second person, such as a second person 90. Specifically, the open receptacle 20 is rocked by the second person 90 in front of the display screen 70, for enabling the first person 80 to simulate river rafting based upon watching the river rafting video file and the open receptacle 20 being rocked. In the present embodiment, the second person 90 is a parent of the child. However, the second person 90 may be any other person who is capable of rocking the open receptacle 20 with the first person 80 disposed therewithin. In an advantageous embodiment of the present disclosure, the open receptacle 20 is inflatable for enabling convenient portability and storage thereof. In the present embodiment, the open receptacle 20 is in shape of an inflatable tub as illustrated in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the open receptacle 20 may be configured in any other shape known in the art, such as an inflatable raft.

The open receptacle 20 is rocked in one of an upward direction and a downward direction based on the scene 12 of the raft pitching in the upward direction and the scene of the raft pitching in the downward direction. Specifically, the open receptacle 20 may be placed on a pair of legs 92 of the second person 90 for being rocked by the second person 90 in front of the display screen 70. For example, the second person may raise and lower his/her legs 92 and knees 94 repeatedly for raising and lowering, respectively, the open receptacle 20 according to the scene 12 displayed on the display screen 70.

The system 100 may also include various rafting equipments to be used by the first person 80, while sitting in the open receptacle 20. Examples of the various rafting equipments may include, but are not limited to, a life vest 30, a helmet 40, and a paddle 50. The paddle 50 may be a foam rubber paddle. The life vest 30, the helmet 40 and the paddle 50, when being used by the first person 80, enhances the experience of river rafting of the first person 80.

The disclosed open receptacle such as the open receptacle 20, of a system such as the system 100 for simulating river rafting, may be fabricated in a variety of sizes. Further, any size of the open receptacle may be produced in any shape known in the art based on user's preferences. Additionally, the exact dimensions and materials for the construction and operation of the open receptacle may vary upon manufacturing.

A method for simulating river rafting is provided. The method for utilizing the system 100 of FIG. 1 for simulating the river rafting is described in detail in conjunction with FIG. 3. Further, reference will be made to the system 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 for describing the method of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 200 for simulating river rafting. The method 200 starts at 202. For simulating the river rafting by the first person 80, the second person 90 may sit down on a floor (not shown) with a pair of legs such as the pair of legs 92, of the second person 90 in a fully extended position. Alternatively, the second person 90 may sit down on any smooth surface, such as a bed and the like. Specifically, the second person 90 may sit in front of a display screen, such as the display screen 70. The display screen 70 is coupled to a media player, such as the media player 60. The media player 60 is capable of playing a storage medium, such as the storage medium 10. Further, the open receptacle 20 is placed over the pair of legs 92 of the second person 90. At 204, a first person such as the first person 80 is disposed within the open receptacle 20. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first person 80 wears the life vest 30, the helmet 40, and carry the paddle 50 so as to be able to simulate river rafting (as shown in FIG. 2).

Thereafter, at 206, at least one river rafting video file such as the river rafting video file stored in the storage medium 10 is displayed on the display screen 70. Specifically, displaying the river rafting video file includes displaying a scene such as a scene 12 of a raft pitching in an upward direction and a scene of the raft pitching in a downward direction on a display screen such as the display screen 70. In the present embodiment, the storage medium 10 is a DVD.

At 208, the second person 90 rocks the open receptacle 20 to enable the first person 80 to simulate the river rafting based upon watching the river rafting video file on the display screen 70 and the open receptacle 20 being rocked. Specifically, the second person 90 moves the open receptacle 20 in an upward direction and a downward direction by the pair of legs 92 of the second person 90, based on the scene 12 (as shown in FIG. 2) of the raft pitching in the upward direction and the scene of the raft pitching in the downward direction, respectively. For example, the second person 90 may bend knees 94 thereof, to raise the open receptacle 20 with the first person 80 disposed therewithin. The bending of knees 94 for rocking the open receptacle 20 enables the second person 90 to reproduce movements of a raft during rapids, as displayed on the display screen 70. Further, rocking of the open receptacle 20 by the second person 90 enables the first person 80 disposed within the open receptacle 20 to simulate a real life river rafting experience. The method 200 terminates at 210.

Accordingly, a system such as the system 100 and a method such as the method 200, for simulating river rafting may be beneficial for enhancing the imaginative skills of the first person, specifically a child. Further, the system and the method require a second person, such as a parent to rock the open receptacle holding the child therein. Accordingly, the simulation of the river rafting by utilizing the disclosed method and the disclosed system may enable a child to spend quality time with a parent.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. 

1. A method for simulating river rafting, the method comprising: disposing a first person within an open receptacle; displaying at least one river rafting video file stored in a storage medium to the first person on a display screen, wherein the storage medium is adapted to be accessed by a media player to display the at least one river rafting video file on the display screen coupled to the media player; and rocking the open receptacle by a second person in front of the display screen for enabling the first person to simulate the river rafting based upon watching the at least one river rafting video file and the open receptacle being rocked.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the at least one river rafting video file comprises displaying a scene of a raft pitching in an upward direction and a scene of the raft pitching in a downward direction from the at least one river rafting video file on the display screen.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein rocking the open receptacle by the second person in front of the display screen comprises placing the open receptacle on a pair of legs of the second person.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein rocking the open receptacle by the second person in front of the display screen further comprises moving the open receptacle in one of an upward direction and a downward direction by the pair of legs of the second person based on the scene of the raft pitching in the upward direction and the scene of the raft pitching in the downward direction.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media player is capable of associating at least one audio file with the at least one river rafting video file.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising wearing at least one of a life vest, a helmet, and a paddle by the first person.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the open receptacle is an inflatable tub.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a Digital Video Disc (DVD).
 9. A system for simulating river rafting, the system comprising: a storage medium comprising at least one river rafting video file, wherein the storage medium is adapted to be accessed by a media player to display the at least one river rafting video file on a display screen coupled to the media player; and an open receptacle adapted to hold a first person therein, wherein the open receptacle is further adapted to be rocked by a second person in front of the display screen for enabling the first person to simulate the river rafting based upon watching the at least one river rafting video file and the open receptacle being rocked.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one river rafting video file comprises a scene of a raft pitching in an upward direction and a scene of the raft pitching in a downward direction.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the open receptacle is rocked in one of an upward direction and a downward direction based on the scene of the raft pitching in the upward direction and the scene of the raft pitching in the downward direction.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the open receptacle is placed on a pair of legs of the second person for being rocked by the second person in front of the display screen.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the open receptacle is moved in one of the upward direction and the downward direction by the pair of legs of the second person.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the media player is capable of associating at least one audio file with the at least one river rafting video.
 15. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one of a life vest, a helmet, and a paddle to be used by the first person.
 16. The system of claim 9, wherein the open receptacle is an inflatable tub.
 17. The system of claim 9, wherein the storage medium is a Digital Video Disc (DVD). 